Fact and Fiction: A Look at Two Works by Mirza Hasan Khan E‘temad os-Saltaneh

This paper will examine and compare two works by the Qajar courtier, historian, and writer Mirza Hasan Khan E’temad os-Saltaneh, an important historian during the reign of Naser od-Din Shah (1848-96). Among E’temad os-Saltaneh’s many works are two books which deal with the same subject. That is, the prime ministers of Iran from the beginning of Qajar dynasty until the the reign of Naser od-Din Shah. The first, entitled Sadr ot-Tavarikh, is a historical account of all of the prime ministers from the time of Aqa Mohammad Khan until Mirza Ali Asghar Khan Atabak. The other, bearing the title The Rapture (Khalseh), deals with exactly the same subject. There are several important differences between them. The Sadr was an official history of the prime ministers of Iran. The Rapture is fictional, though it is set within a historical context, i.e. the return of Naser od-Din Shah and his entourage from their pilgrimage to the shrine cities in Iraq. A large part of its story takes place in a dream. Hence, the subtitle, Khābnāmeh (The Book of Sleep). The Sadr is straight forward in its accounts of the terms and lives of the prime ministers. The Rapture, however, is much more judgmental about their contributions, especially Mirza Hosayn Khan and Atabak. The Sadr represents an official history of the prime ministers. The Rapture was kept secret by its author, much like his famous Ruznāmeh. The Rapture has as its central query the cause of Iranian decline. For that, the bulk of the blame falls on Atabak, whose section takes up half of the book. Only three pages of the Sadr are devoted to Atabak. That also reflects E’temad os-Saltaneh’s personal animosity toward Atabak. A comparison of these two texts reveals much about the inside workings of Iranian politics during Naser od-Din Shah’s reign. It also reveals something about the politics of writing history and the use of fiction in 19th century Iranian political writings. Therefore, these two starkly different books by the same author and on the same subject reveal much not only about their author, but about many important individuals in 19th century Qajar Iran.